Friday, September 30, 2016

Uplifting Wordsby Michele Tampa Hoag, E-RYT

Just for one week consider this....

Recently, a friend and mentor of mine posted the following quotation from Jeff Brown – “Words. So powerful. They can crush a heart, or heal it. They can shame a soul, or liberate it. They can shatter dreams, or energize them. They can obstruct connection, or invite it. They can create defenses, or melt them. We have to use words wisely.”

My Grandmother always told me “you can say almost anything to anyone, however, it is all about HOW you say it”. What if, for one week – we took this advice to heart? What if, for one week, we used our words to heal hearts, liberate souls, energize dreams, to connect and melt defenses (and, that includes the “talks” that we have with ourselves)? What if, for one week, we consciously chose to use our words wisely; to lift up what we love rather than tearing down what we hate? What if, for one week, we really stopped to think before we react or speak?

What do you think the results would be? Here are my thoughts – we would improve the relationships that we have, we would cultivate positive energy and create new relationships, we would spend one week helping to eliminate anger, hostility and mistrust. For one week, please challenge yourself to ask one simple question before you speak – that question is -- “how would I feel if those thoughts or words were directed to me?” – for one week, before you speak, make certain that the answer to that question is – “I’d feel pretty darn good!”

Use your words wisely for one full week, and see what riches next week might bring. I'd love to hear from you!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Building the New

Change. One thing in
life we can absolutely count on. After
announcing the move of our Steele Creek location to inside a GIANT, Club
Fitness, many clients and friends ask WHY?
The short story is, it was either close the studio OR move to Club
Fitness. Now don’t misinterpret that
Club Fitness was our last resort. It was a well-considered decision. Now here’s
the full story.

The Steele Creek studio 5-year lease is up this month. For about 6-8 months prior, I researched all
the possible options to either close, move, or stay in Steele Creek, Lake
Wylie, or even Fort Mill. Financially the business was barely breaking even. So
after 5 years in in the same location it was time to close. In business and in life, there is a balance of
discernment between knowing when to let go and when to keep going. In my heart I felt I would find
a solution that would keep my family’s financials safe and continue to serve
the Steele Creek area. After all, I too
am a Steele Creek resident of almost 20 years. The wellness of this community
is personally & professionally important to me and our Synergy Team. I couldn't let them down. If there’s one thing to know, I’m very
resourceful and won’t let go without a whole hearted try when Spirit is the
driving force.

Now, since our area is in high growth mode, commercial real
estate has sky-rocketed. A Commercial Real
Estate Broker shared the leasing rates are look like downtown Charlotte
rates. We could essentially lease a space in the Bank of America building
downtown for about the same price as the Steele Creek area. Yikes! At this
mid-life stage, my husband and I look at lower risk investments as you can
understand we have 1 son in college and 2 more to enter in the next few years
and retirement to think about. In addition, over the years of stumbling, learning, and
growing as an entrepreneur I figured out some of the equation about what it
takes for our type of business “small box” yoga studio to financially make it
(story for another day). It was time to move on.

When the good fortune of being introduced to the owner of
Club Fitness arrived, I was all ears. (I
really don’t believe in good fortune, it’s all about when you’re living “on
purpose” the right people and opportunities will arrive without struggle.) He and I were able to agree on a business
partnership quickly and easily because we both knew it was the right
thing. We are the one thing his business is missing and they are the one thing we were missing. Perfect. As with
any change, we expect growing pains, emotions to swing, loss of some clients, gaining
new clients, successes, and failures. However, at the end of the day when you’re
living on purpose, authentic, and guided by both the heart and the mind, good
things will come.

As yogi’s we learn that change allows us the
opportunity to grow and re-discover the strengths and the goodness within. Without opportunity we wouldn’t be able
to move forward and flourish.

The great Socretes said “The secret of change is
to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

Let's build the new! Thank you for being part of this journey! See you on the mat.